Middle East Forum Podcast

In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the attempted takeover of a Flydubai flight carrying mostly Israeli passengers, how the attack was stopped, and the unanswered questions surrounding the pilot’s intentions. He also looks at how the incident is reshaping Israel’s election campaign by putting national security back at the center of the debate, as Netanyahu and the opposition compete for control of the agenda. Subscribe to the Middle East Forum for new episodes and expert analysis every week.

In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with evolutionary behavioral scientist and author Gad Saad about his new book, Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind, and his argument that empathy can become harmful when it overrides reason and self-preservation. Saad discusses how this idea applies to immigration, academia, Israel, Islam, and cultural relativism, as well as the influence of ideological conformity and postmodernism on Western institutions. Subscribe to the Middle East Forum for new episodes and expert analysis every week.

In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the focus on Israel at the UN General Assembly, Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address, and the growing international pressure over settlements and settler violence. Perry also discusses efforts to disqualify Arab parties and candidates from Israel’s election, Avigdor Lieberman’s proposal for Jordan to administer Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank, and opposition efforts to coordinate campaign strategy as neither major bloc has a clear governing majority. Subscribe to the Middle East Forum for new episodes and expert analysis every week.

Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch joins the Middle East Forum Podcast to discuss why he believes the Oslo Accords have failed, how the Palestinian Authority’s “Pay-for-Slay” system incentivizes terrorism, and why its expanding security forces pose a growing threat to Israel. He also examines the legacy of October 7, the future of Palestinian leadership, prisoner exchanges, and the security implications of developments in Judea and Samaria. Subscribe to the Middle East Forum for new episodes and expert analysis every week.

Ashley Perry examines the UK’s new sanctions targeting Israeli settlement goods, Israel’s retaliatory response, and why Washington’s silence may be more consequential for Jerusalem than the measures themselves. He also discusses a disputed report that the UAE warned Benjamin Netanyahu shortly before October 7 that Hamas was preparing a major attack, and what the allegation could mean politically as Israel heads toward elections. Perry then breaks down the finalized candidate lists, growing instability among ultra-Orthodox parties, and the enlistment debate shaping the race. Subscribe to the Middle East Forum for new episodes and expert analysis every week.